The prologue and epilogue to the new comedy, called Sir Courtly Nice, or, It cannot be

THE PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUE To the NEW COMEDY, CALLED, Sir Courtly Nice, or, It Cannot be.

The PROLOGUE.

WHat are the Charms by which these happy Isles, Have gain'd Heavens brightest, and Eternal Smiles? What Nation upon Earth besides our own, But by a loss like ours had been undone? Ten Ages scarce such Royal worth display, As England Lost, and Found, in one strange day. One hour in Sorrow and Confusion hurl'd, And yet the next the Envy of the World. Nay, we are Blest in Spite of us, 'tis known, Heavens Choice for us, was better than our own. To stop the Blessings that o'reflow this day, What heaps of Rogues we pil'd up in the way? We chose fit Tools against all good to strive, The Sawciest, Lewdest Protestants alive. They wou'd have form'd a Blessed Church indeed, Upon a Turn-Coat Doctors Lying Creed; To know if e're he took Degree is hard, 'Tis thought he'l have one in the Palace-Yard. Plot-Swallowers sure, will Drink no more Stuff down, From that foul Pitcher, when his Ears are gone. Let us Rely on Conscience, not on Cheats, On Heavens Wisdom, not State-Juglers Feats. How greatly Heaven has our loss supplyed? 'Tis no small Vertue Heals a Wound so wide: Nay, in so little time to Rear our Head, To our own Wonder, and our Neighbours dread. They see that Valour Crown'd with Regal Power, They have oft seen with Lawrels Crown'd before. Verse is too Narrow for so great a Name; Far sounding Seas hourly repeat his Fame. Our Neighbours Vanquish'd Fleets oft wafted o're, His Name to theirs, and many a Trembing Shore.

And we may go by his great Conduct Lead, As far in Fame as our Fore-Fathers did. At Home, he milder ways to Glory chose; God-like, by Patience, he Subdued his Foes: Now they, and their Designs are Ruin'd all, Beneath their fallen accurst Excluding Wall: These are not all the Blessings of this Isle, Heaven on our Nation in a Queen doth Smile, Whose Vertues, Grac'd by Beauty, shine so bright, All the Fair Sex to Vertue she'l Invite,

And all our Clouds turn to a Glorious day, By this Illustrious pairs United Ray, Who both Reform and Grace us by their Sway.

The EPILOGUE.

TO plead for Freedome in so free a time, May seem Impertinent, if not a Crime. The Circling Sea, gives Limits to our Shores, But nothing bounds our Rabble, Wives, or Whores. In Spite of all Indulgent Sway can do, Our Croud, their Lust of Faction will persue, And either Sex will to their Joys go on, Scorning all ills to Honour, Purse, or Bone. Nay, Parents now, not only can endure Their Childrens Faults, but which is worse, procure, Of Old, Proud Mo••her, full of Parent Sway, Kept Miss a Vassal to her work all day; And to the Wooing Spark, Miss was not brought, But some fine Golden thing, her Needle wrought. Now you shall meet Young Lady and her Mother, Rambling in Hackney-Coaches, Masqu'd together. Yes, and to Speak the Truth, to work they go, Fine work, but such as they will never show; Except some Net to draw a Fool to Wed, And then he finds Miss rare at work — a Bed. Nay, we have gotten other Schools of late, As Masquerades, and the Jews Chocolate.

There Fowler like, a watching Gallant pores, Behind his Glove, to get a Shot at Whores, Whose Coach and Bones comes Ratling to the Dores.

Nearer he creeps, discharges some kind words, And off he carries streight the wounded Birds. Another Gallant waits in the great Room, Till a New Cargazon of Strumpets come; And there with his own Face he Treats his Eyes; What need he see, he can Act Comedies? There by four Glasses plac'd, as for the nonce, Sir Sparkish Acts four Coxcombs all at once. Our Galleries were finely us'd of late, Where Roosting Masques sate Cackling for a Mate; They came not to see Plays, but Act their own, And had throng'd Audiences when we had none: Both Pit and Gallery was a Strumpet Fair, Where Higling Whores, Sold Rotten Pumpions dear. This Comedy throws all this Leudness down, For Vertuous Liberty it pleads alone; Promotes the Stage toth' ends at first design'd, At once to Profit and Delight the Mind.